Improvement in escape-valves for pumps



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD A. FLOYD, OF MAOOMR, ILLINOIS.4

IMPROVEMENT IN ESCAPE-VALVES FOR PUNIPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 48,543, dated July 4, 1865.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD A. FLOYD, of

Macomb, in the county of McDonough, in the State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pumps; and I do herebyV The nature of my invention consists in a de! vice by meansof which the Water contained in a pump may be released and allowed to tlow out to a point below the freezing-line, so that there need never be danger of bursting pumppipes during cold weather.

That others may understand its construction and operation, I will particularly describe A is the pump-pipe, and at any convenient point below the line of freezing 1 perforatc it, as at B. Over this hole I secure the plate U, which has a vertical channel at the back, in which the slide D is placed, so that it covers the hole B. The said slide is recessed at the back, so as to accommodate an elastic waterproof packing, E, as a piece of thick leather or india-rubber, &c. y

To the ltop of the slide D, I secure a cord or wire, F, which extends upward to a point within convenient reach of the hand, and is provided at its upper end with a hook or other convenient means of holding it at any desired point. Around the wire F (or staple f, as shown) I place a spiral spring, n', the lower coil of which rests upon the slide D and the upper coil against a cross-pin, g, or other firm attachment, so that as the slide D is raised the spring is flexed and will canse the slide toreturn as soon as the moving power is reuioved.

The Operation of my device is as follows: When the slide D is in its normal condition the slide or gate D covers with its elastic backing the hole B, so that there can be no escape of water through it; but it' it is feared that during the time whenV the pump will notbe used it will be liable to freeze in the upper part, the slide is raised byv means of the wire F until the hole b through' the slide D coincides with the hole B through the pipe of thepump,

when it is evident the contained fluid will be allowed to escape, and all liability'to burst will be obviated. Before the pump can be used again it will be necessary to lower the slide so as to cover the hole B again.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters The slide D, constructed as shown and de- 

